Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Blog Tour: Storm of Arranon by @RESheahan #interview #giveaway



YA Science Fiction/Fantasy
Date Published:  Re-release July 9, 2016, the book has been out since February 2013
Publisher: Rule of Three Press

A forbidden birth. A remarkable young woman. A marauding alien society. The battle begins.

   A brutal alien society invades Korin and Arranon, intent on destroying the two worlds that make up Cadet Erynn Yager's home. Forced to expose her strange abilities and reveal her forbidden birth, a guarded web of secrets unravels.
   Stranded on an unfamiliar planet of eternal winter and predatory wildlife, the mysterious living consciousness of Arranon intervenes, leading Erynn on a mystical journey. 
   Aware of Erynn's potential, the alien enemy pursues her. She struggles to gain control of her growing powers while in a constant race to elude the invaders, and join the forces preparing to fight a mounting occupation. 
   Erynn’s secret may be her worlds' only hope, but at the cost of her life. Swept up in a chain reaction of events, Erynn's dedication extends far beyond service and duty. She learns the true meaning of sacrifice. 
   Along with courage and hope, Erynn finds something unexpected on her journey of awareness and growth.
   Love.


Purchase Link



Interview

Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?

I’d love readers to just enjoy the story and connect with the characters, that’s awesome enough. If there were any messages, I think it would be acceptance, confidence, and trust. Erynn, the main character, wants to be accepted, but she has to learn to trust and accept herself first.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Mostly the after writing tasks like the synopsis, blurb, title, cover design, marketing, and promoting. I’m not good at talking about myself, (my introvert self has difficulty with this sometimes), although, I love helping other people with all aspects of the writing process and can talk for hours.

How many books have you written and which is your favorite?

I’ve written seven books, the first three, while good efforts, were kinda just practice runs. I paid editors to go through one, and the education I received was worth every penny. Book four in the Storm of Arranon series is my favorite. The story’s evolving and the characters are growing, I really enjoyed letting them loose to write this book.

If You had the chance to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would you pick and why?

This is an interesting question. I have cast actors for several of my characters, seeing that actor as I write, but not the main character, Erynn. I’d have to guess because she’s so real and clear to me, I just haven’t found an actor that fits her perfectly.

When did you begin writing?

I started writing seriously while living on my ranch, waiting for ewes to lamb in the middle of the night. I had an hour or two between checking their progress, so I’d sit at my computer and write. Sheesh, my first attempts weren’t pretty. I enjoyed writing, though, and took a leap of faith into a new career. I joined critique groups, attended writer’s workshops and conferences, and took writing classes. I love it and wouldn’t change a thing.

How long did it take to complete your first book?

Well, since I wrote and then rewrote my first book two times, (I was still in the learning process), I’d have to say about three years. The second rewrite included cutting two hundred pages of back-story. Ouch. I needed to know all this information about my worlds and the characters, but the reader didn’t.

Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?

Yes! Dean Koontz. I love how he creates a sentence, then a paragraph, then a page, pulling me into the story until I feel I’m right there in the action along with the characters.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

I’m reminded of what a character from an old TV series used to say, I love it when a plan comes together. I’m writing, the story is flowing, and a bit of information written chapters before circles around, reveals some important fact, adding depth to a scene or character. Wow. Did I just do that? I’m always amazed. Ah, the strange brain of a writer.

Describe your latest book in 4 words.

Action. Adventure. Romance. Magic.

Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the future for your writing?

I’m currently finishing book four in the series. Book four takes place on both Arranon and Korin, with some surprises about Erynn’s home world thrown in. All the same characters with a couple of new ones added. One in particular, Bryn, could be my new favorite. She’s snarky. Oh, by the way, she’s Sean’s favorite, too. Tam learns she has the heart of a warrior and Jaer, well, he’s Jaer. Can’t say too much, spoilers you know! 


I have always been a reader. I’d come home from grade school with stacks of books every week, and during the summer, I’d get my fix from the library. I love books. Later, while working every day outside at the ranch, I’d listen to audio books on cassette with one of those Sportswalk players I’d hook to my belt. I could go through three or four books a week.
I started writing while working as a Paramedic/Firefighter in Northern California. 
Trust me, it’s not always like it appears on TV. There was plenty of time for reading. 
Writing got serious for me when I moved to my ranch in Oregon. While waiting for lambs to be born in the middle of the night, I would head back to the house for an hour or two and sit down at the computer. Before I knew it, I had a manuscript. One hundred and twenty-two thousand words that desperately needed help, but it was a start. 
The characters demanded their story be told, so I joined critique groups and attended writer's conferences. I was on the fast track to learning what I needed to know to write well, and tell, show, an engaging story. 
In 2013, I received an honorable mention in Writer’s Digest’s Self Published book awards for MG/YA, so I guess I had learned something! BTW, I’m still learning.
      Ideas from dreams follow me into warm sunny days or the quiet of falling snow. “What ifs” feed a vivid imagination. Even mistyped phrases may lead to an "aha" moment. Brain storming sessions standing in dark, windy parking lots with fellow writers release thoughts that pry at the corners of my mind, grasping for purchase. Sometimes the ideas pursue me, with persistence.

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for posting

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